The 2018 Chicago Auto Show kicks off this week and yours truly will be in attendance for the media days scheduled for Thursday and Friday. The public days begin Saturday, Feb. 10 and extend through Monday, Feb. 19. If you’re in the Chicagoland area, plan a visit to the McCormick Place to take in upwards of 1,000 new vehicles, concepts and displays.

The Big Show

The Chicago show doesn’t have the number of new reveals as do Los Angeles, Detroit and New York, but it does make up for it by offering the largest display space and most visitors of any show. The original show launched in 1901 and continues at the location it has used for more than a half century. Indeed, the McCormick Place is the show’s venue, benefitting from numerous updates down through the years and boasts sufficient space to carry off a show of this magnitude.

I’ll be representing Auto Trends Magazine directly at this show and will share much of what I discover through my social media interactions as well as in articles published here and elsewhere. Feel free to follow my Twitter (@theautowriter), Facebook (RealAutoTrends) and Instagram (matt.keegan.auto.trends) accounts to track my many updates. I’ll be using the #CAS18 hashtag most of the time during the three days I’m in Chicago, along with various manufacturer tags.

The Hit Parade

Among the models on display in McCormick Place are the following:

The 2019 Ram 1500 Limited is top-end of a seven trim product lineup. This model sits on the longest of the 1500’s three wheelbases and has a 6-foot, 4-inch bed.This Volkswagen Arteon succeeds the CC, a coupe-like four-door model. The Arteon, already on sale in Europe, will make its official North America debut at the Chicago Auto Show. We’ll have more details following the press conference.This FT-4X concept may point to a feature styling direction for Toyota. The FT-4X stands for Future Toyota Four-Wheel Drive, suggesting a new type of vehicle for the brand.The Kia Stinger flies in the face of convention for two reasons: 1), it is a sedan in a utility vehicle market and 2), it a premium model served up by mainstream Kia. This orange fastback is the Federation Concept, which comes outfitted with special aftermarket parts, including TSW wheels, a K&N cold-air intake and a low-restriction quad-tipped Borla exhaust.The Nissan Juke is on its way out, soon to be replaced by this 2018 Kicks. The new model doesn’t have the polarizing design of the outgoing Juke, but it does advance a styling edge all of its own. Arrives in Nissan showrooms this June.This 2019 Mercedes-Benz E53 Cabriolet should have you thinking about warmer days as it rolls into McCormick Place. This all-wheel drive beauty comes with a 3.0L 6-cylinder in-line engine with exhaust gas turbocharger and electric auxiliary compressor paired with a 9-speed transmission. With an output of 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, this top-down luxury delight has a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds.On sale in Europe since last November, the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio arrives this spring in the US. This model has a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 engine making 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to the wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. A 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds is the estimate.

Toyota Introduces 2019 TRD Pro Line

Off-road fans know that Toyota is a significant player in the segment, delivering three models for your selection. The 4Runner SUV, Tacoma midsize pickup truck and the Tundra full-size pickup truck are the trio of Toyota models comprising the brand’s off-road capabilities.

At the Chicago Auto Show, Toyota unveiled three TRD Pro versions off its powerful threesome, offering important changes, including Fox 2.5-inch Internal Bypass Shocks across the TRD Pro line. Further, the Tacoma TRD Pro now offers an available TRD desert air intake while the 4Runner TRD Pro earns a TRD roof rack. As for the Tundra, Toyota fits this model with available Rigid fog lights and BBS wheels.

Customers have a choice of three exterior color schemes for the trio: Super White, Midnight Black Metallic and Voodoo Blue, the latter exclusive to the TRD and a color once popularized with the now retired Toyota FJ Cruiser.

Toyota updates its TRD Pro group for 2019. Check out the cool desert air intake on the Tacoma!

Ford Rolls Out New Transit Connect Wagon

The Ford Motor Company introduced a new vehicle today. Instead of targeting young buyers as they usually do, the automaker chose to go after Baby Boomers with its new 2019 Ford Transit Connect wagon. The Transit Connect comes in smaller than today’s minivans, but it does offer room for seven. The idea here is for owners to carry their grandchildren, pets and maybe make some room for their geriatric equipment (kidding. not kidding).

Key among the may changes for the 2019 Ford Transit Connect is a newly available 1.5-liter EcoBlue diesel engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Ford expects this new powertrain combination to deliver at least 30 mpg highway. The standard engine is a 2.0-liter gas user, paired with the same transmission.

Chicago Auto Show Concept & Technology Garage

Each of the models mentioned here are showcased in the McCormick Place’s Concept & Technology Garage. Journalists are supplied with a two-hour preview window to view each vehicle, take photos and video, and interview OEM representatives. It is an invaluable opportunity, therefore yours truly will take every advantage while there.

The third of four major North American auto shows gets underway this week when the Chicago Auto Show opens to the general public. Running from Feb. 11-20, this year’s show will once again be held at McCormick Place on South Lake Shore Drive. And this year I’ll be in attendance for the first time, bringing updates as they happen.

The media preview days are on Thursday and Friday, with 15 automakers making presentations. There will also be a few events on Wednesday, including the Concept & Technology Garage, providing what the organizers say will be a “deeper dive” into all things concept cars, safety technologies, and automotive telematics. Immediately following that event will be the first previews of the auto show as sponsored by Nissan.

But as is common to auto shows in the 21st century, the first previews have already happened.

The 2018 Ford Expedition will offer excellent pulling power.

2018 Ford Expedition Breaks Cover

Indeed, Ford rolled out an all-new Expedition SUV at an event in Dallas, timed to coincide with the Chicago Auto Show. The eight-passenger Ford Expedition is four inches longer than the current model, but comes in approximately 300 pounds lighter. An aluminum-intensive body is responsible for some of that lightweighting in a vehicle built on top of a high-strength steel frame.

The large SUV market is growing and is dominated by a pair of GM twins: the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban and the GMC Tahoe and Tahoe XL. The Dodge Durango is another model customers have been turning too, but the 2018 Expedition along with its larger GM counterparts have more interior room and offer superior towing.

Ford’s 3.5-liter, V6 EcoBoost engine returns, but it will now be paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This means we should see a nice boost in fuel economy from the current 15 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway. As before, rear-wheel drive is standard and four-wheel drive is available.

An all-new interior includes numerous storage compartments.

Other standout features include a panoramic vista sunroof, power points for every passenger, SYNC 3 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless charging, and a 12-speaker B&O audio system. A cargo management system and an available dual-headrest rear seat entertainment system are other features.

The 2018 Ford Expedition will be available in three grades: XLT, Limited, and Platinum. Arriving this fall, the truck will be manufactured in Louisville, Kentucky.

Photos courtesy of the Ford Motor Company.

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2018 Dodge Durango SRT: Performance SUV

2018 Dodge Durango SRT.

The Dodge Durango is a three-row SUV, sharing its platform and many components with the two-row Jeep Grand Cherokee. It is the largest SUV sold by Fiat Chrysler, offering room for eight.

For the first time ever, a high-performance SRT version arrives to the market, powered by a naturally-aspirated 6.4-liter V8 engine. No, this isn’t the same supercharged V8 powering the Hellcat — that one displaces at 6.2 liters and makes more than 700 horsepower. Still, with 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque at the ready, the 2018 Dodge Durango SRT shouldn’t be easily dismissed. This engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The new trim arrives late this year. Customers who opt for one will receive one full-day session at the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Racing. That session will come in handy as the SRT features a blistering 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds and completes the quarter mile in just 12.9 seconds.

Who knew that a family vehicle could be so fun?

Among the many features of the Durango SRT is a new sport mode that reduces shift times by up to 50 percent versus Auto Mode. It delivers up to 65 percent of the engine’s power to the rear wheels of the all-wheel drive machine. The SRT also comes with stiffer front and rear springs, a stiffer rear sway bar, massive Brembo high-performance brakes, Pirelli performance tires, and a 180-mph speedometer. The usual badging and trim embellishments are offered too.

Photo courtesy of Fiat Chrysler.

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Hot Subaru Introduces the 2018 Legacy

Refreshed Subaru Legacy debuts ahead of the Chicago Auto Show.

Midsize sedan interest continues to wane as customers shift to crossovers and other body styles. When 2017 comes to an end, the perennial best-selling model in America, the midsize Toyota Camry, will likely cede its position to one of a trio of compact crossovers, including Toyota’s own RAV4.

Subaru has seen much success over the past eight years, doubling sales as customers are attracted to such SUVs as the Outback, Forester, and the Crosstrek. But Subaru shoppers have been showing increased interest in the brand’s midsize Legacy sedan as sales rose by 8 percent last year in a slumping segment.

The current-generation Legacy was rolled out in 2014. For 2018, it’ll receive several updates, including refreshed front and rear fascias, an updated center console, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a quieter and smoother ride. Although not one of the changes is especially dramatic, together they demonstrate Subaru’s commitment to this midsize model.

The Legacy will continue to be powered by a pair of BOXER (horizontally-opposed) engines. The standard bearer is a four-cylinder displacing at 2.5 liters. Also available is a 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine. Both are paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission.

A big advantage offered by the Subaru Legacy is standard all-wheel drive. It provides an extra measure of handling advantage as torque is sent to the wheels as they slip. In this class, only the Ford Fusion offers all-wheel drive — and only as an option on top trim models. Other models with this option have since been discontinued — the Chrysler 200 and Suzuki Kizashi. What helps Subaru stay relevant is that the Legacy shares its platform with the popular Outback crossover.

We think the refreshed Legacy will continue to pull in additional customers, regardless of what happens to the segment. Also helping matters is that the cabin is one of the largest in the segment, offering ample room and comfort for five adults. Lastly, Subaru’s winning formula is enhanced by its stellar safety ratings, typically earning a 5-star rating from the federal government and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from an insurance safety consortium.

Photo courtesy of Subaru Motors.

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Nissan Completes Its Titan Truck Line

Nissan spokesman Fred Diaz introduces the Titan King Cab.

Nissan has been working diligently these past few years by updating its full-size pickup truck line. More than a year ago, Nissan rolled out its Titan XD line, full-size models straddling the light- and heavy-duty divide. A crew cab version was later joined by a single cab for a model line powered by V8 gas and diesel engines.

Once the Titan XD took hold, the standard Nissan Titan was rolled out. Initially, Nissan offered a crew cab model, then followed with a single cab. Missing from both was an extended cab model, but come this spring, a king cab model will officially complete the Titan/Titan XD model line.

The all-new King Cab will be available for both the Titan and Titan XD and come with a 6.5-foot bed. This truck has a rear hinged door design with a wide-opening feature for ease of access to the second row. Customers can choose to include the second-row seat or delete same for additional interior storage space. According to Nissan spokesman Kevin Rafferty, Nissan is the only manufacturer with the rear seat option.

Both the Titan and Titan XD King Cab will be available in three grades — S, SV, and PRO-4X. Both 4×2 and 4×4 configurations are available. The standard engine is a 5.6-liter, gasoline V8. However, Titan XD shoppers will have an additional choice: a 5.0-liter, Cummins V8 turbo-diesel. Both engines are paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission.

Rear-hinged rear doors and a delete seat option.

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazines.

Chevrolet Rolls Out Redline Series

No new Chevrolet models were introduced at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show, but a concept trim package was released. This Redline special edition series was originally introduced at the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and will be available on nine models by the end of the 2017 calendar year.